Natural changes in ecosystems under the influence of wildfires
Bogusław Wiłkomirski, Piotr Gutry
Wildfire is any uncontrolled fire occurring in different ecosystems. Degradation of environment and drought are among the most important reasons of wildfires. Any wildfire influences on environment, mostly by high temperature, and the effect can be observed on the field of changes of soil physical and chemical features, environmental xenobiotics level and animated nature. The most important changes of soil features include the variations in levels of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as the changes in soil reaction. Among the environmental results of wildfires, the increasing of the xenobiotics concentration and greenhouse gases amount can be observed. The most important organic pollutants originating from wildfires are polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are known as highly toxic and carcinogenic compounds. In animated nature wildfire cause either fast biotic effects and adaptations or long lasting effects. The above effects are of more concern in plant world.
